Trump criticizes government violence and internet shutdown in Iran

Donald Trump reacted on Twitter for the first time since the start of street protests in Iran. He criticized the internet shutdown, saying it was an attempt by the Iranian government to suppress information about the violence against the Iranian people.

Trump criticizes government violence and internet shutdown in Iran

Six days after the start of street protests in Iran over the high cost of gasoline, which soon turned into anti-government slogans and violent acts of security forces against protesters in many cities, Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday, November 21, regarding the internet outage in Iran: "Iran has become so unstable that the [Islamic Republic] regime has shut down the entire internet system so that the great people of Iran cannot speak out about the very violent violence being perpetrated in this country."

The internet in Iran has been cut off since last Saturday, November 15, following the escalating protests over the tripling price of gasoline.

"They don't want any transparency. They think the world won't know about the death and tragedy the Iranian regime is causing," the US president wrote in another tweet.

Amnesty International announced two days ago that 106 people have been killed, hundreds injured, and more than a thousand arrested in these protests. Unofficial sources have put the number much higher.

Previously, US Vice President Mike Pence had expressed US support for popular demonstrations in Iran in a message in response to nationwide protests against the tripling of gasoline prices, poor living conditions in Iran, and the rulers' repression.

Pence wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday, November 20, “While Iranians have taken to the streets to protest, the clerics in Tehran continue to commit violence and imprison people. The message from America is clear: The American people stand with the Iranian people.”

German government strongly criticizes violence against protesters in Iran

A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said in Berlin on Thursday, November 21, regarding the recent protests in Iran and the high number of protesters killed by the Islamic Republic's security forces: "We are shocked to hear reports of the killing of more than 100 people and condemn the disproportionate actions of the Iranian security forces."

The German Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the people's right to peaceful protest.

The German diplomatic spokesman also stated: “People in Iran should have the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the political and economic situation and to express their opinions freely and peacefully.” He continued: “We call on the Iranian security forces to exercise the greatest possible restraint.”

The German Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that the German government also expects the Iranian leadership to completely end the internet shutdown in the country.

Amnesty International announced two days ago that 106 people have been killed, hundreds injured, and more than a thousand arrested in these protests. Unofficial sources have put the number much higher.

The protests in Iran, which began after the price of gasoline tripled, quickly took a different direction and targeted the entire system.

Iranian domestic media have blamed the Supreme Security Council for the widespread internet outage that began after protests over rising gasoline prices. The internet was shut down in Iran on Saturday, November 15, following the height of the protests.

Iranian tourist agencies have completely cut off all connections with foreign countries.

The head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association announced in a letter to the Supreme National Security Council that communication with foreign tourists and agencies has been cut off due to the internet outage.

According to ISNA, Ebrahim Pourfaraj wrote in the letter that he does not know whether agencies and tourists have agreed to travel to Iran or have given up.

He said: "We cannot correspond with any agencies abroad. We do not know the results of their decisions regarding travel to Iran. All previous consultations with agencies and foreign tourists have remained unanswered."

Pourfaraj added: "The usual procedure was that we communicated with tourists and foreign agencies through internet messengers, and there was less direct communication by phone or fax. Now, with the internet shutdown, all access has been cut off."

German Left Party calls for end to crackdown on protests in Iran

Stefan Liebisch, spokesman for the German Left parliamentary group, wrote in a statement on Wednesday, November 20, referring to the recent protests: "But people in Iran must be able to peacefully express their opposition to gasoline rationing. Freedom of assembly and opinion must also be respected by the Iranian government in these circumstances."

The spokesperson for the German Left parliamentary faction has called on the German government to demand that Tehran end its repressive measures against demonstrators.

The European Union called for "restraint" from the Iranian government

The European Union on Thursday, November 21, called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to show "maximum restraint" regarding protesters protesting the living conditions in Iran.

Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for the European Union's foreign policy, offered condolences to the families of those killed in the recent protests in Iran and called for dialogue to resolve the tension.

"We expect Iran to exercise maximum restraint regarding the protests. We also call on protesters to express their protest peacefully. Any acts of violence are unacceptable," spokeswoman Federica Mogherini added in a statement, according to AFP.

The killing machine in Iran must be stopped immediately!”

A group of Iranians abroad have written an open letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran Javid Rehman, and UN Human Rights Council President Klosek, urging them to "raise their voices of protest against the Iranian government and demand that it stop its killing machine and its deliberate, calculated, and unjust policies against the citizens of Iran."

The letter states: "The inattention of influential institutions at the global level to this situation is dangerous. This is a great incentive for the Islamic regime ruling Iran to continue its criminal and inhumane behavior against all those who have insisted on respecting human rights in their country through civil means."

Mike Pence: The American people stand with the people of Iran

In response to nationwide protests against the tripling of gasoline prices, poor living conditions in Iran, and the rulers' repression, US Vice President Mike Pence has expressed US support for popular demonstrations in Iran in a message.

Pence wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday, November 20: "While Iranians have taken to the streets to protest, the clerics in Tehran continue to commit violence and imprison people. The American message is clear: The American people stand with the Iranian people."

“End the deadly actions against protesters”

The Human Rights Campaign in Iran stated in a statement about the recent protests in Iran that the Iranian authorities' use of violence against protesters in Iran, including the use of firearms and weapons, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.

The human rights organization says: “This violence, confirmed in reports and videos by citizens outside Iran and through eyewitness interviews with the Campaign, as well as international and human rights organizations and independent activists, indicates that security forces are shooting at unarmed citizens, killing many. The Campaign calls on the authorities to use peaceful and non-violent methods of crowd control in accordance with international regulations.”

Governments must end deadly crackdown on protesters
The Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran and the Center for Human Rights Defenders announced in a statement: "Iranian authorities must immediately end the deadly repression of protesters who have taken to the streets in many cities to express their opposition to the increase in gasoline prices."
The Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran and the Center for Human Rights Defenders have stated: “Based on international human rights treaties to which Iran is a party, governments have a duty to investigate human rights violations, including the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers and plainclothes security officers, and to hold perpetrators accountable.”

Source: DW